Chapters It has been several weeks since the Shadow Pony incident and Night Gale has officially settled down in Ponyville with his friends, Lunar Dawn and Dinky Doo. He is always happy to see Dinky or Lunar when either find time to visit the stallion. This may not be his time period, but he enjoys it like anypony else, and hopes nothing will take it away from him. So he thinks, he has been working on a type of flying machine for the past week and he's going to test it tomorrow when it rains. Night smiled at his own handy work. Over the weeks that have passed, Night has also remembered more about himself, leading to this machine. Of course, while he was putting on the finishing touches, Dinky decided to ivenstigate exactly what Night was building.
The filly stood next to Night, whom was currently under the machine, and spoke.
"Hi Night!" She cheered, a loud Thump! emitted from under it.
"Son of a," Night Gale slid out from under the machine, "Dinky, you shouldn't really sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry, just wanted to know what you were working on." Dinky said, almost hanging her head.
"Well," Night started, getting up and rubbing a hoof on his horn, "it's a Thunder Flyer."
"A what now?" Dinky tilted her head in confusion.
"This flyer will harness the power of lightning to fly. With a bit of help from my magic."
"How did you even build this?" Dinky looked up at Night Gale.
"Well," Night looked down towards Dinky with a smile, "when you have the brightest mind of your time, you can learn build many things."
Dinky looked back at the flyer and took a step closer to it to examine it closer. She then stepped back.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Dinky asked, looking back up to Night.
"I'll find out tomorrow when it rains." Night answered, looking at his flyer. Dinky took step back from the flyer and step closer to one of Night's legs.
"The worst part is that I'll barely see up there." Night blurted aloud. Dinky was resting her head against his leg now.
"If you need a pair of goggles, I think my mom has a spare set lying around. I'll ask about them though."
The next day was as Night hoped for, rain. Dinky was able to obtain a pair of flight goggles for him, and in good timing too. Although she might have been a bit disappointed that Night wouldn't let her tag along. Night put on the goggles and went outside into the rain. He shivered a bit, but pulled through to the flyer. Basic design according to him, an area where the pilot sat was wedged inbetween two medium engines, each with two blades to make up for one propeller, block-like wings spanded out from the sides. Night made himself comftrable winth in the pilot's seat. Night made sure the lighning rod attached to the back of the cockpit was adjusted just right to catch the lightning in the clouds.
Night's horn lit up in a purple aura that matched his eyes. The craft started to lift off the ground towards the sky above.
Before he knew it, lightning struck the rod, powering the engines to an extent. Night flipped several swites to get the blades moving and slowly took off. The flyer was gaining very admirable speed, the strikes from the lightning were increasing sufficiently to power the engines.
"Woooooooooo!" Night let out in a joyful yell above the thunder.
Although, he could've sworn that he almost hit somepony as he did. Night kept his attention on flying the craft smoothly out of the clouds.
While flying, Night slightly faded once. The joy on his face disappeared when it happened again but stronger. Night tried to increase that speed of the flyer only for it to go on without the pilot. Several moments went by until Night Gale faded back in at the same spot he faded out at. A look of disappointment crossed his face.
"Well shit." Night said, now plummeting to the ground below.
Night spread his wings and took flight as soon as he reach the bottom of the storm and flew home. He knew something was happeneing, but exactly what was a complete mystery to him. Night never actually tried to find out where his craft went after that. A bigger problem was at stake.
Lunar Dawn came over to visit Night Gale early the next morning, only to find a mess of papers and books littering all the rooms of his house. As she proceeded to look for her friend, papers shuffled from under her hooves. Lunar came across a sizable lump in the papers and books. All that stuck out was a dark horn and Lunar knew who it was on the spot. First, she poked Night's side with her wing, she got muffled groan as a result. Lunar then decided to kick Night, again, and he shot straight up to the ceiling. Night stared at Lunar, trying to make out the pony that had just awoken him. Lunar stared back with a rather large grin across her face.
"Did you remember what today is?"She said happily, still satring at Night
"Considering I got a bit busy last night, not really." Night replied blankly, hovering down from the ceiling.
"I can see that, but anyway, the Pricess invited us to the castel for lunch. I think Luna might be there."
"Luna? I haven't seen her for ages," Night gale stopped to think for a moment, "Figuratively speaking, that is."
"Get ready then, Lunar giggled, "we are on a clock."
"I'm working on it, just got to clean up this mess is all."
Lunch with Royalty, and an Uninvited Guest.
Lunar Dawn and Night Gale were well on their way to the train station. Lunar was kind enough to buy not only a ticket for herself, but also a ticket for Night. The morning was still a bit young as they occupied a bench together, their attire quite choiceful, well, for Lunar anyway. Night was in such a rush that he didn't put anything fancy on, not to mention the fact that he doesn't own any formal clothing. He, more or less, just combed through his mane to make it a bit more presentable. Lunar put on a nice dress with a sparkling bow. The two waited less than an hour on that bench, in silence, before the train to Canterlot arrived to pick up its passengers.
"I don't see why you didn't just put some kind of tie on." Lunar whispered sternly at Night.
"I don't own any ties or bows like you!" Night whispered back. The two took their seats in the back.
"I don't even like being formal. It's feels like cramping when I wear something nice." Night stated, staring out the window he sat next to.
"Well, maybe I wouldn't be on you if we weren't invited by Celestia to join her for lunch." Lunar hissed back.
"It's Celestia, Lunar, she won't even mind how you and I will dress. She probably just wanted it to be casual." Night turned back to his friend.
"You've got to be kidding me. We are going to meet up with a princess, a princess , Night! It does matter how you present yourself to royalty!" Lunar slightly raised her voice. Night put a hoof up to her mouth.
"Shush! You hear that? It's the sound of not caring." Night truned back around after that, leaving the stunned mare next to him with a red filled face of anger.
The train eventually reached the Canterlot platform after a few hours. As the train was unloading, Night allowed Lunar to step off the train before him. She was met personally by Celestia, then greeted Luna.
"Greetings, fair citizen." Luna greeted Lunar whilst shaking her hoof. "My sister speaks greatly of you, and your little friend."
Lunar stepped off to the side to reveal that Night was standing behind her. That's when Luna's eyes widened, looked at her sister, then back at the familiar stallion before them.
"Is that really..." Luna started, but was quickly cut off by Night's response.
"In the flesh and blood." Night had said with a grin on his face. "My, my, when I last saw you, you were a lot smaller than your sister." Luna's cheeks went a bright red for a few seconds and hugged her long lost friend.
After the reunion at the platform, the small group was slowly making progress to the castle through Canterlot. Luna was happily talking away to Night Gale, Dawn was trail just behind Celestia, and Celestia made frequent stop greet her subjects.
"So, you stopped the Shadow Pony, but didn't go back to your time?" Luna asked with great intruigue.
"Well, he's actually trapped within my music box somewhere." Night responded with a smile on his face. Everpony seemed happy, but who was hiding their true feelings just happen to be behind Celestia as the group walked on. Both Princesses and their guests were greeted by the royal guard when they reached the castle.
Once inside, the four were being escorted through the halls around the castle to the dining room. Dawn was admiring the castle's achitecture while trying to listen to Celestia explain how it was built. Night and Luna were still chatting away, yet both still had an idea as to where they all were going somehow. Night didn't suspect that Dawn was a bit jealous through the fact he hit it off with Luna so well after see her in.. well... years. Night didn't really see Celestia or Luna as rulers, more like the sisters he knew before his first encounter with the Shadow Pony. He was their guardian then, they got along well, he even entertained them the best he could when they were just little fillies, and he did a pretty damn good job of protecting the two. Night was even their mentor in magic and offense when they became of age. Now, he's just a regular pony and their the extrodinary ponies everyone knows.
The ponies were soon sitting at an enlongated table, all were waiting patiently to see what they get to eat since Celestia let one of the castel's chefs choose their meal. Guards came into the room with platters of silver, aromas of something that put saliva in the muzzle of the ponies that the smell entered their nostrils. Night was nearly leaning out of his seat when he smelled the aroma filling the room. The platters shined as they were placed on the table before them, lids were lifted to reveal... Apples, grilled apples. Dawn's face was struck with confusion while Celestia, Luna, and Night got some of the dish presented. She just looked at the food, not knowing as to what she should be doing.
"You really should try it atleast." Night said to his friend, "It's really good actually."
"But... how do you even grill apples?" Lunar blurted out, tunring to Night.
"Simple really. Just start a fire and throw some apples on an iron plate over the fire." Night responded quickly before taking another bite from the apple. Dawn eyes the dish once again before finally taking an apple and biting into it. Dawn then smiled and took another bite of her apple.
"Mmmm..." Dawn released as she chewed.
"Good, isn't it?" Night asked, putting down the apple core with the other two from the sisters.
"You two remember back in your training days, what we'd do in our off days?" Night asked Celestia and Luna with a big grin.
"Do you really think you can keep up, you old pony?" Luna taunted, ctaching Night's drift.
"Talking a lot of smack for somepony your age." Night snickered back at Luna.
"Celestia, what are they talking about?" Dawn asked, confused at why Luna and Night were snickering at eachother.
"Cider contest." She simply said, shaking her head.
"You. Are. On!" Luna bellowed, slamming a hoof down on the table. The platter jumped a few centimeters with the food.
"You two can compete later with the cider." Celestia stopped the hoax taunts between Luna and Night.
"Awwww... what's the matter? Celestia all grown up for a little competetion?" Was all Night could say before he burst out laughing and dropped to the floor.
It took a few minutes before Night's laughter died off and Celestia shook her head once more.
"Glad to see that you still have your sense of humor Night Gale." Celestia smiled, silence soon followed her response. Luna looked over to where Night had landed to only find that he had disappeared.
"Sister, we might have a slight problem." Luna's face got serious.
"And what would that be, dear sister?" Celestia shifted her eyes to Luna.
"He's no longer in the room...." Luna said gravely, looking at her sister.
Dawn started to panic at the fact Night was no longer around. Celestia had several guards search all over the castle for the stallion. Only, the results weren't satisfactory. Night Gale was nowhere in the castle, that's when Luna also started to panic while Celestia tried her best to stay calm in this situation. The table was cleared off, Luna retreated back to her quarters, Celestia in the throne room, and Lunar Dawn in the hall outside the dining room. Some odd number of hours passed when the trio returned to the dining room to check for anything clues as to what happened to Night Gale. A loud CLANG emitted from behind them. There, in the evening sun, stood the alicorn, covered in blood, shaking, and shock being masked by his wet mane. Several splotched of blood sat on the sword and stained the floor beneath it.
"Night Gale, what just happened?" Dawn was the first to break the silence.
"Something very, very, very wrong with Time." Was the stallion's only answer to her question. "Yet, only one pony may know what the hell is going on."
"Who?" Luna asked, leaning in a bit closer.
"The Shadow Pony." Night raised his head to look at the three mares before him.
"You can't be serious, how are you going to get him out of that music box when you can't even find it?" Dawn questioned the motives of the stallion.
"Well.... when a team first discovered him encased in ice, I foolishly touched it. For the first few days after that, he spoke to me in my sleep. He's still in my subconcious, just need to project him." Night got ready for a spell he thought should work. He took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused. Night's horn lit up in the purple aura again. Sweat crossed his brows as a projection started to take from of the Shadow Pony, a lot smaller than before.
"Shadow, I need your help. That little spell you pulled is starting to backfire." Night Gale started, the aura glowing brighter.
"I would help, but I'm not quite as powerful as I once was. Neither do I have my book." Shadow's voice was less deepened and less demonic. "Also, Night Gale, the spell not only affects you, it has the ability to wipe out the world as you know it."
"What? How will it do that?" Celestia asked, not knowing the real weight behind the words spoken by the Shadow Pony.
"The spell I performed on Night causes Time to try and repair itself. Only by wiping out the effected time period and the pony the spell was performed on. In my spellbook, there is a spell I created to implement any effected items. I do not fully know if it works on ponies though."
"Where is your spell book, exactly?" Luna asked, staring at the projection.
"In the Citadel, Night Gale knows." The Shadow Pony then faded out as Night lost his balance.
"Night, stay on castle grounds for the night. Lunar Dawn you shall be escorted home." Celestia satrted up.
"I'm leaving at morning. Only I know where that old Citadel lies." Night excalimed, gaining full balance.
"Not without a bath first." Luna looked onward. Dawn was escorted out of the castle, Celestia seemed to have left the room without Night and Luna.
Night Gale was accompaning Luna through the dark corridors that now infested the castle. Luna was rather close to Night and blushing slightly. Night had a small smile on his face, even though the crimson on his coat, mane, and tail was starting to dry. The light sound of the clip clop clip clop of Luna's and Night's hooves could barely be heard. Night made eye contact with Luna, which made her look away for a moment.
"Anything on your mind, Luna?" Night Gale asked when the princess looked away.
"Just... excited to see an old firend is all." Luna replied, trying to keep her eyes ahead of her.
"I"m just as excited to see you again too, Luna. Even Celestia, only, took me some time to actually remember her." Night said with a smile. Luna actually had hidden feelings for the stallion next to her due to them being around him more. She did well to keep it in a good hiding spot that way nothing too... extreme... would happen in the hall.
Luna didn't really expect to keep Night on the castle grounds that evening. She had difficulties actually trying to find a room in the castle for Night and resorted to the next idea. Letting him stay up in her quarters unitl morning, his departure. Nothing seemed too brash at the moment they were walking. Night stopped abruptly to look out a window in the hall.
"Is something wrong, Night?" Luna asked instinctively. Night just pointed out the window.
"There, Night said blankly,"is where the Great City used to lie." Luna joined Night in looking out across the silohuette of Equestria. She couldn't even tell what they were looking out on, but he knew where he was pointing. Luna was still trying to see exactly where Night was pointing, but he brought his hoof back to the floor. The crimson was starting to peel off of his coat.
"Night, I don't see where it used to be, turning her head back to the dazed stallion.
"I can, magnificence in only a memory." Night said, looking away from the window to the princess he stood next to. Night's eyes widened when Luna locked her lips with his in the split second she had before they continued down the hall. Night could feel her tongue explore the inside of his mouth. He closed his eyes a pushed back against Luna slighly. She pulled away with red cheeks and a smile.
"I..." Night started to say something, but was stopped by Luna's hoof.
"Just follow me, Night Gale." Luna simply stated, walking ahead of Night as he followed her.
The two ponies made it to Luna's room in the castle. Luna didn't regret what she pulled in the hall not too long ago, and she's not going start regretting anything now. The door creased open slightly as the pirncess peered in, nopony was present in the room. Luna opened the door wider and stepped in with Night not too far behind her. Night was looking around the room, admiring the size.
"Spacious, perfect for a lab." Night said with great intrest, still following the various items in the room.
"Don't get any ideas. This is my room." Luna said smirking back at the stallion
"I know, I know. Besides, we should get to some unfinished business involving cider." Night stated, locating Luna's bathroom rather quickly without being told where.
It wasn't long for him to wash up and emerge. Showing his dark coat, purple mane, and tail once more. He found Luna sitting at a table in the middle of the room with two empty shot glasses on the surface of said table. Night just smirked to himself and sat across from Luna.
"Just to make it interesting," Luna brought out a peculiar bottle and faced the label towards Night, "I had some this 'hard cider,' as they call it, for our little competetion."
"Well then," Night encased one of the glasses in magic lifted it above the bottle, "let the games, begin."
They both were smirking at eachother as Luna filled both of their glasses with the cider. Night cheered Luna, then proceeded to gulp down his cider. Luna started at the same time Night drank, but ended up coughing after hers.
"Looks like somepony can't handle their cider quite right." Night snickered out.
"Juts shut up and drink." Luna sneered back, pouring Round 2 into their glasses. Night gulped down his cider once again, Luna had troubles swollowing the second time she tried to gulp. He simply smirked at the disoriented princess as she gave him a stern look. Luna poured their glasses full of the cider once again, determined to beat her old mentor in their little drinking game. Luna tipped her head back and the liquid disappeared from her glass, she looked at Night and swallowed. He just shook his head and gulped down his cider in less time than she did, slamming the glass on the table.
"Fuck this game," Luna slid the glass over to Night, "you win, as always."
"I could've gone about 10, maybe 6 more rounds. Give or take some numbers." Night snickered to himself.
"I didn't drink as much as you did." Luna eyed the stallion.
"Not once did I ever show up drunk off my ass. Now did I?"
"As a matter of fact, no. You'd go through several dozen cups and not get drunk."
"Exactly."
"Well then, I do have other plans for the night."
Night was looking at Luna when she said that. Luna was walking away from the table, but tunred her head and smiled back at Night. He didn't think much of it til he thought about how she kissed him in the hall. Night quickly took the bottle and popped the cork back in.
"You can't be serious, right?" Night asked, hoping this was all a joke.
"I'm serious all right. I've had these feelings for you for quit sometime now. Even after you disappeared." Luna replied, removing her tiara, neck brace, and shoes. Night climbed out of his seat, inching his way towards the door. Luna walked over to him and pushed him towards her bed.
"Just relax, Night, I pormis it'll be enjoyable, for the both of us." Luna said, udging him further away.
"I'm more worried about someone cathing us than fucking you." Night decide to walk the rest of his way and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I don't get disturbed at night, we'll be fine." Luna reassured Night, her hoof running down his body.
Night's dick stiffened at her touch, his minde raced terribly with thoughts that would get one in trouble. Luna kneeled closer to the floor and strted to lick his shaft, sucking at what she thought could be his sensitive areas. Night's mind started to slow its pace, making thoughts more clear as it progressed. Luna took it upon herself to continue on by taking all of Night's dick in her mouth. Her head started to make upwards motions paired with downwards motions aswell, wrapping her tongue around the dick in her mouth. Night was starting to lay back, enjoyin the fact that Luna was sucking on him.
Luna stopped suck and removed her head from around Night's shaft. Night looked up to see what she was planning now. Luna had climbed on to the bed and hand her hind legs spread wide near his dick. She lifted her rump and press the folds of her pussy against Night's dick, it was warm and wet to him. Luna let out a slight moan and allowed herself to bring herself down on him. She started to moan greatly after that, moving her hips in a motion that was steady, her pussy constricted around his dick as if it were a wet snake trying to move from him. Luna then leaned forward and locked her lips with Night's once more, moving her hips at an increased speed. Their tongues crossed paths inside each other's mouths. Although, Night didn't think he could hold back much longer.
Luna broke the kiss off once again, she moaned out in ectstasy as her juices started to flow out from around Night's dick.
"Luna, I'm getting a bit close, don't know how much longer I'll last like this." Night whispered to Luna, trying his hardest to hold back his semen.
"It's.... ok.. Night, you.... may release ....your seed ...inside of me." Luna whispered, still moaning as she moved her hips.
"But.. won't tha-" Night was cut off by another kiss from Luna as he released his cum deep inside her pussy. Luna pulled herself off and layed herself down next to Night. Both ponies were breathing heavily next to eachother.
"That... was great, thank you for that Luna." Night turned his head to look into Luna's eyes.
"You'e.. welcome, just promise one thing for me." Luna looked at Night
"Yeah?"
"Come visit more often, benice to see you again after all those years."
"Well," Night shifted his body a bit, "You can count on that after all this."
Luna smiled and gave Night a peck, turning the rest of her body to face Night's, they both scooted closer to eachother and fell asleep in one anothers hooves.
It was early the next morning, Night Gale was standing next to the bed, looking out a nearby window. Luna was still sound asleep, silence had engulfed the room. Night looked from the window and over to the sleeping Luna, he let out a small smile and tucked her in further. Luna only shifted a bit in her sleep as he tucked her in. Night made his way out of the room quietly only leaving a simple note. All he hoped for was that he would return, but he also had two other stops to make along the way. Night descened down the steps to the hall. He passed the dining room and made his way to the front of the castle. Night found Celestia waiting for him near the doors with two of her guards.
Night stopped before Celestia and bowed.
"Princess." Was the only word he spoke as he bowed before her.
"Night, are you sure you want to do this alone?" Celestia asked the bowing Night.
"Quite certain, Celestia." Night stood up up from the bow, "And nopony will stop we.
"Very well, I've had something tailored for you from a firend of my student's." Celestia nodded towards one of the guards. A saddle bag and brought down round Night's back, one side had the bag, the other side had a strap.
"What's this strap for?" Night observed the postioned slot.
"For this." Celestia slid the sword from Night's disappearance in to the strap. The sword slid in quite nicely, te cold metal rubbing against Night's coat.
Beware the Lurkers Night Gale. The Shadow Pony's voice called out from inside his head as he cotinued down the steps to the outside. Night was confused by the warning. Lurkers are nasty little buggers, Night. The voice rang again in his head. Night took off in flight towards Ponyville, hoping this won't be his last. He found it rather relaxing to be flying high above the landscape, clear some thoughts to make himself comfortable. It didn't take too long to reach Ponyville, just slightly shorter than the train ride to and from. When Night landed, he made sure it was in front of Lunar Dawn's home. He brought a hoof up a tapped on the door three times, no answer. Night tapped the door three more times, still no answer. He brought his hoof back and hit the door, this time it swung open. There sttod not what he though was his friend, but a different pony. The pony just glared at Night, Night stared back blankly and trotted off.
He checked the mailbox as he passed, it was the right house for sure, but why was there a different pony. Night continued on to his next stop in town, Dinky. He tapped on the door only twice before he was cut off by the filly opening the door.
"Night!" Dinky yelled out, jumping on to Night.
"Careful Dinky, I'm carrying something sharp." Night stated, catching the filly that jumped for him.
"What for?" Dinky asked, looking up at the stallion. Night sighed as he put Dinky down and knelt to make eye contact with her.
"Dinky.... I'm going on a journey. I don't know how long it'll take or if I'll ever come back. But this is very important that I go away on this." Night started to have tears in his eyes. "Promise me you won't cry if I don't come back."
"Then why won't you take me with you?" Dinky asked, a worried look on her face.
"I'm going it alone, if I do come back, you'll be the first one to see me. I'm doing this for your protection just like anypony else." Night hugged Dinky and stood up.
As Night was walking away, Dinky retreated back inside and started crying. He only shed one tear and started galloping. Night was well on his way to head back to a place that history can't find. He spread his wings and took off again, something didm't seem right though. Night ws trying to figure out why there was a different pony at Lunar's house than his friend. But he pushed on, on to the Citadel, where this can all end and he doesn't have to worry anymore. He landed after a few hours in front of rocks, the pile was in a wide circle.
"Let's do this." Night said to himself, blowing a giant hole in the pile to reveal a pair of rails. Night jumped into the hole and a loud metallic sound emitnated from the impact. They're watching you Night Gale. Shadow's voice called out again.
"Why are you choosing now to talk to me in my head? Seems more like a dickish move." Night whispered to te voice in frustration. I've had some complications trying to, ignore other voices, watch out for Lurkers. As soon as Night heard that, a noise was made from behind.
"Other voices?" Night said, looking behind him. He produced a light to see down the tunnel to what led to the Citadel, an began walking in that direction.
The tunnel was still intact somehow as Night walked down it. He thought it shouldn't take him long to reach the Citadel. He heard scratching along the walls behind him, but when looked at, there was nothing. Night pushed on further, trying to ignore the scrathing. He could see the door to the Citadel, but was ambushed by creatures nopony has ever seen before, and they weren't native to the Everfree Forest either. Lurkers found you, in the droves as it seems too. Shadow's voice was heard again. Night kicked one off of him and drew the sword. Dismembering as may as he could before he was tackled by the dozen. The strange goo that was spread on the sword didn't seem normal either. Lurkers kept piling on Night, trying the best they could to get to him. There was another in the tunnel that followed Night all the way to his destination, and lended a hand to Night by blasting the lot on Night.
"Yet, you started the fun without me." A familiar voice called out. Night looked up to see Luna's glowing horn. He hopped up on all fours, the sword still drawn, Lurkers crawling all over the ceiling.
"How'd you even get here?" Night asked Luna, staring up at the ceiling of the tunnel for any advancements.
"What makes you think I'd actually let yo do something alone? I followed you shortly after you left the castle." Luna replied to Night, joining his side whilst eyeing the ceiling with him. "What are those things anyway, it's like they lived here for a while."
"Lurkers, by the looks of them, nasty little pricks." Night explained. One of them made a move only to be impaled by the sword Night had. The next attack was doubled in numbers and both were blasted away by Luna.
Night made a move for the bulkhead door while the number of attacks were increased. He looked back at the door after he cut into a lurker.
"Dammit to Tartarus! The door is protected by a puzzled spell lock! The manual override for the door!" Night yelled out.
"Can't you open it?" Luna yelled back, blasting a small group back
"I'll need time! These were the hardest locks ever made in Equestria." Night said, starting to get to work on the lock. Luna galloped over and casted a shield spell over them so the lurkers couldn't disturb Night while he worked.
"What exactly was the purpose of this Citadel?" Luna asked, looking back towards Night.
"It's was a refuge center just incase the city should have ever come to seige. Residents from within the Great City could come down here and save their families and themselves. It was never used, even during the Shadow Pony Conflict." Night replied to Luna, getting nearly half-way done with the lock.
"Theses things are disgusting." Luna blurted out, one of the lurkers jumped onto the shield casted.
"Got it!" Night cheered as the lock ticked and whirred. The bulkheads opened for just enought space for both ponies to slip through and quickly shut itself again. Night started up a light from his horn again. Drips were heard, from a leaking pipe at the bottom of the cylinder-like area. You must go down, my book lies at the bottom. You might want to keep an eye out for anything unwanted. Shadow's voice echoed within Night's head again.
"We must go down." Night said blankly, jumping on top of the railing.
"Night, are you insane?" Luna asked Night with confusion.
"Nope, just doing what I do best. Going out on a hunch." Nigh stated before jumping off the railing like a fool The instinct to spread his wings hit as Night was soaring down. He didn't pay much attention to how the doors looked the first few times until he slowed down and took a closer look at one. The door consisted of metal, a tiny barred window, wheel, and a serial number engraved on the front.
Night Gale was shocked at his finding. He never oversaw the construction of Citadel, so he never knew what went on while it was being built. Now, he knew what is was going to be used for instead of his intended purpose for it, a prision. I'm sorry Night, but you had to find out. Another pony took reigns of construction, but this wanted the power you had. Night shook his head a shot straight down again.
"I'm going to see this place buiried." Night whispered to himself. He stoppped mid-flight and landed on the bottom of Citadel, water rippled at his hooves. Night stared straight ahead, making small steps in the puddle.
"This book better be up ahead...." Night started, stopping whn he found the only door that was around, reading the name on the door, no number.
The door read 'Night Gale.' Night slowly approached the door and peered inside tosee a simple pedestal. A book was lying on the pedestal, Shadow's spell book. It was obvious the Shadow Pony knew this discovery would be important to Night. Ever since he wanted to hide his spell book, he found Citadel like this. Night turned the wheel to the door nd opened it with a loud creaking noise from the hinges. Night took a deep breath and walked in, picked up the book, and stepped out. He placed the book carefully in the saddle bag and secured it within. Night shook his head clear once more, spread his wings and sprayed water on the rounded wall when he flew back up to Luna.
"Did you find it?" Was the first thing Luna asked when she saw Night
"It's right here." Night simply replied to her, looking at the ground.
"Are you all right Night?" Was Luna's second question to the grim stallion.
"No, Citadel's purpose was changed, I didn't know." Night turned to observe the ceiling. "But I'm not going to let the hellish place stand any longer."
"What are you talking about?" Luna was beginning to get worried about Night.
"Get the door open when I shoot." Night ordered, charging up his horn. Luna nodded, trusting the stallion, she only had a second to react to the shot. Night shot a burst of magic towards the roof and it hit, Luna opened the door to lurkers.
The two ran out to the lurker army, Luna shot them back while Night blew a hole in the tunnel to make a quick escape. The first to fly out after the blast was Luna, Night followed shortly after her. A nightmare ws laid to rest down there, a nightmare that could've come true in the past.
"Night Gale, what was down there that made you bury Citadel?" Luna flew over to Night.
"Ciadel was repurposed as a prision, to hide those that could've spoken out against a tyrant. I had no idea it was being turned into a prision during its construction." Night said softly, closing his eyes to the thought of him being in there with two foals that would've had no idea what was going on.
"Who was leading the constuction of Citadel?" Luna tried to ask Night, if he knew.
"Let's just go back to the castle and end this. Once and for all." Night turned and flew towards Canterlot, accompanied by a very worried Luna.
Luna and Night Gale returned to the castle, Luna a bit wearily of Night after how he reacted to Citadel. Night knew what he did, buried the past for nopony to discover ever again. Celestia met up with the two ponies returning from their trip, she was surprised that Luna had snuck out to follow Night to Citadel, yet, slightly cross at her sister's action also.
"Did you find the book, Night?" Celestia asked the stallion, looking towards his direction without getting a look back.
"Yush," Night unlatched the saddle bag and presented the book to Celestia, "It's right here, with me."
"Is... something bothering you?" Celestia asked, noticing the monotone in Night speech pattern.
"I found more than I bargained for. Now, if you don't mind, I must go ask Shadow for directions how to use the spell, what page it's on and so forth." Night walked past Celestia,leaving her with Luna. Celestia watched Night until he was out of sight.
"What else did you find down there?" Celestia asked her sister, turning to look at her.
"Something that Night does not wish for me to speak about." Luna simply replied.
Minutes passed by, then those minutes turned into hours, several hours passed by before Luna checked on Night. She found him in the ballroom, sitting in the middle of the floor, sobbing to himself, the book open next to him, and head bowed.
"Night," Luna cooed softly, reaching out for the stallion, "Night, what's going on?"
"I can't fix it, not by myself, not strong enough." Night replied, calm but surely with tears roling down his cheeks. Luna touched Night's shoulder, the pony flashed, the hoof retreated. Night raised his head, then stood turning towards Luna with a big grin, his mane covered his eyes.
"That's it! Luna, go get Celestia for me, she has stronger magic than I do! Hurry please, we don't have much time either before...." Night faded out for several moments then returned in the same manner. ".... the spell completely destroys us!"
Luna galloped out of the ballroom to go fetch her sister. Night was smiling to himself as he turned around to the book.
"You clever bastard you. You knew I wouldn't be able to fix it alone, but when this is over, the spell on that m-" He was interupted by Luna returning withhe sister.
"That was rather quick." Night swept his mane from his eyes.
"You requested me, Night?" Celestia was gazing at Night's newfound joy as he hopped up.
"Why yes, need you to perform the spell on me. I can't fix it myself, not strong enough, but you! YOU are greater witht the prowess of magic then I." Night explained, handing the book over to Celestia.
"Are you sure about this?" Celestia asked Night, raising a brow towards her age old friend.
"Very, but first.." Night trotted on over to Luna and locked himself to her lips for a few minutes before returning to the center of the ballroom.
Celestia looked over the spell that was present on the page and charged up a good supply of magic. She shot it towards Night, with a successful landing, he was surrounded by a ribbon of magic with clock ticks on both the top and bottom. It slowly wrapped around the pony and lifter him from the ground below. Night surely winked towards both sisters before being ungulfed in an orb of energy. The orb expanded greatly, quadrupling its size then contracted into a smaller orb that was half of its origninal size. The orb then took te form of a pony, having yet to have released it's grip. It then spat out a different orb of golden aura. The original form landed softly of the floor and went into a mist, reavealing Night unconcious, and going up into the air. The golden orb had yet to do anything, probably waiting for something to happen.
Night woke up shortly and stood up in full. He looked towards the orb of gold and smiled greatly.
"It's all right, you can come out of there now." Night told the aura. The orb quickly took the form of a second pony and burst into bits, releasing the smaller Shadow Pony from not only his prision, but from Night himself also. Celestia took a step forwards, lowering her head, and pointing it at Shadow.
"What is HE doing back out?" Celestia demanded, charging up her magic in case of an attack.
"In order for the spell to have worked completely, I had to break a previous spell that released Shadow into this world once more, but rest assure, he is willing to change." Night explained, putting himself infront of the Shadow Pony. Shadow was in his origninal form, pure black accompanied by white eyes that glowed, no mane, no tail.
"I didn't expect him to break his own spell because of him being the only pony to noticed my change. Rather odd I would require him to break his spell for this one to work." Shadow started rambling, his voice was changed further to something more civilized, almost posh. Night looked behind himself and moved away, turning towards Shadow.
"Well, what am I supposed to do? Let you talk to me in my head the whole time? I don't think so." Night said back to Shadow.
Shadow only smiled sheepishly and shrugged. Night turned back to look at the now standing down Celestia and her sister.
"Now, if you both don't mind, I have a filly to go see." Night stated, walking past both princesses and out the ballroom.
But there was something Night couldn't shake as he was flying back to Ponyville to see Dinky, the strange disappearence of Lunar Dawn. Where had she gone was anypony's guess as much as his. He would have to figure that out soon, if not later. Night is worried about where one of his firends being gone, that is, until he made a discovery. Dinky went missing also, but tracks were left at the door. Time for Night Gale to divise a plan to catch the pony targeting him through his friends. Prevent them from getting to anypony else.